Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling

My little sister accidentally rented this movie thinking it would be as funny as the original Without a Paddle film. However, its only use is as a Frisbee, and even then it doesn't fly straight. Avoid. The acting was abysmal, a total joke to be honest. The plot was non- existent, and the movie was simply made up of lame joke after lame, stinking joke. Oliver James used to be good, in 'What a Girl Wants,' he is a half decent actor and is rather hot too, but this film is simply a great disappointment if you were watching it only for him. And really, that seems like the only reason anyone would watch this movie, because honestly, you would be better off cleaning the bathroom or writing a ten-page essay as this would be both more entertaining, and a better use of your time. Sure, if you're bored out of your mind, it is vaguely possible you might gain some slight entertainment value from this film, but you would have to be an immensely sad, lame-humoured person for such an impossibility to occur.

While the first movie wasn't all that entertaining - it was passable, this doesn't come close to it what-so ever.

Dialoge is poor, setting is not to full effect, story is lame, casting is all wrong, nothing in this is memorable.

The squirrel sequence is just retarded and it's subplots are just as stupid.

I saw this free and was glad that I didn't pay for it.

It saved me the cost of a rental, but regardless is was still lifeless and bring.

Not even the two eco-chicks were from the first movie - which I guess is a good thing...

Who thought of this story as something to produce is severely looking to get fired.

Soundtrack didn't offer anything either.

If you liked the first Without A Paddle, you should leave it at that and forget about this one, because you will enjoy this.

Nothing really works in this. It's just a mess of sub-stories that were mishmash-ed together to put together a sub par script that is not funny or entertaining.

There is a reason that this went straight to video...because it would not have lasted 2 weeks in a theater.

It's poorly developed - even the sound nature effects are over done.

The continuity is atrociously horrible as is the timing and looping.

Save your money, save your time...go to sleep instead.

"Without a Paddle: Nature's Calling" (2009) is a comedy/adventure about three old friends who venture into the Northwest wilderness to find a girl whom one of them fell in love with when they were kids. She's now a hippie tree-hugger, but stands to inherit a fortune. Will they find her? Will they even get back alive?

This "sequel" was only made because the first movie, 2004's "Without a Paddle," was a minor hit at the box office, making three times its expense in the USA alone. As you can see from the above synopsis, "Nature's Calling" is merely a retread of the same plot with slight variations and different actors. It also cost $12.7 million less.

If you liked the first film you might appreciate this one, but it's anemic by comparison, not that the first one was that good. The protagonists are likable and the filmmaking is hip, including the soundtrack, but the shenanigans are only mildly amusing and the girls, again, aren't anything to get too excited about, although the brunette is the best of both worlds. The over-the-top scene with the squirrels is easily the best scene and is almost worth the price of admission. I suggest only watching this one if you're a fan of the first movie and want to see a lesser film with the same plot and tone.

An interesting difference is that this one was actually shot in the Great Northwest, in the wilderness East of Portland, rather than New Zealand.

The film runs 96 minutes.

GRADE: Borderline C- or C

Even a bad comedy can be good sometimes. Not this one though - not even close.

Terrible story, terrible cinematography, terrible continuity, terrible casting. This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

Oh - and please - was there not one Canadian any where near the shooting of this film to teach the director that Canadians do not talk as though they were portrayed in this movie. The use of the sound "eh" and the 'sayings' (like "Holy Halifax") were contrived and - well, okay, I'm going to use a bad word: stupid. It was so annoying and so ridiculous, it was hard to even get close to the end without eye rolling and chucking popcorn at the screen. Is it really so challenging to portray a Canadian? After all, we are America's closest and largest neighbour and have thousands of Canadians working in Hollywood alone. This wasn't funny, it was lazy writing and unacceptable.

I'll be sure to avoid anything with these actors and directors in the future.

I am aware this is a sequel.

But if you haven't seen that one, this is a fun movie. No one will win awards for acting, but Kristopher Turner is quite likable and Rik Young eventually shows he is more than just a spoiled brat, although he is quite appealing in a way from the time we meet him. Oliver James has kind of an uptight clueless quality but eventually shows us some degree of substance.

The guys learn a lot about each other, and this movie turns out to be more than just silly comedy.

The villains have a lot in common with The Three Stooges, which is good news for our heroes, but things do get kind of scary.

The girls are gorgeous and do an okay job of acting.

And what about the Sasquatch? Fans of football great Jerry Rice may be the only ones to appreciate him. He does not have a future as an actor.

One thing is certain: this movie hammers home a pro-environment message. The scenery is gorgeous like the girls, and the idea is to keep it that way.

Can the entire family enjoy it? Maybe. More cautious parents might not care for the suggestive dialogue, and it is implied the girls are more than just friends. On the other hand, there is more sexual humor that suggests otherwise. There is cartoon violence including the favorite type of fans of the longest-running show that had Tom Bergeron as a host. The difference is that it really does hurt and we see what happens afterward.

Also ridiculous: the animated squirrels. It's great work for those who produced them, but this movie is too naughty for the young children who might just be the only ones to enjoy their antics.

It's a fun adventure.